Renée came to town in 1980 when Lee Dumonde, who she believed was her sister, had her stroke. Later Renée saw David Banning holding a gun in Alex Marshall's office, and Alex had been shot. David was sentenced to seven years of jail, but managed to escape when the transport he was on crashed. David hid in the basement of a radio station, and Renée helped keep him hidden there.

In 1981 Renée met Tony DiMera, and became infatuated him. Despite warnings from Lee not to see him Renée kept seeing Tony. One night while in a hot tub, Renée was attacked by the Salem Strangler. Luckily Lee happened upon the attack, and Renée lived. She was taken to the hospital, where the strangler tried again to kill her, but was interrupted again by a nurse. Renée fell into a coma, and David Banning was accused of being her attacker. However, when Renée woke up she cleared David.

In 1982 Renée was confronted and attacked by the Strangler again, and this time she saw his face, but repressed the memory. Concerned for her life Tony hid Renée in his house.

Later Tony proposed to Renée, who accepted. However, Renée discovered Lee's diary, and not only learned that Lee was really her mother, but that Stefano DiMera was her father, making Tony her half-brother. Renée quickly broke things of with Tony, not telling him the real reason in order to spare his feelings. Tony refused to let Renée go, and when she told him the truth he refused to believe they were siblings.

In hopes of getting over Tony Renée turned her focus towards David Banning, who returned her feelings. In November of 1982 David and Renée married, and soon after Tony confronted Renée with some lab tests he had checked, they were not related. However, Renée decided to remain married to David.

In 1983 Renée became pregnant with David's child, but miscarried after falling from a horse.

In his will Stefano said in order to earn their inheritance Tony and Renée had to live under the same roof for one year, and Renée had to stay married to David Banning. Also, the will stated the first couple to have a child would receive an extra five million dollars. Renée and David moved into the DiMera mansion with Tony and Anna.

Renée was jealous of Anna's marriage to Tony, and the fact that Anna became pregnant with his child. Renée rigged the DiMera Yacht to sink with Anna on board, however Tony was also on the yacht when it exploded. David rescued both Tony and Anna, but Anna lost the baby.

David was appalled by what Renée had done and he divorced her. Soon after a lonely Renée was charmed by Alex Marshall, and the two quickly wed. However their marriage was short-lived, Renée learned a second will of Stefano's existed which gave her a nice sum of the DiMera fortunes. Renée realized Alex had only married her for the money. Renée then threw a big party where she announced her divorce from Alex, and then bad mouthed everyone she had invited. Later that night Tony told Renée he still loved her and they made love, but soon after Renée was found with a knife in her back and a black raven's feather. Later it turned out that Renée had died from the poison on the blade, and not the wound itself.